Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
TUMOR MARKER.
Synonyms/Aliases
3-METHOXY-4-HYDROXYMANDELIC ACID; 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYMANDELATE.
Abbreviations
VMA.
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
7 Days
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 7 WORKING DAYS.
Method
CHROMATOGRAPHY.
Temp
FROZEN (PREFERRED) OR REFRIGERATED.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE.
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. TOTAL VOLUME OF COLLECTED 24 HOUR URINE IS REQUIRED. PROVIDE CLINICAL HISTORY & PATIENT'S CURRENT DRUG HISTORY. DISCONTINUE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IF FEASIBLE (MULTIPLE DRUGS CAN INCREASE OR DECREASE VMA LEVELS; CONSULT PATHOLOGIST IF IN DOUBT).
Patient preparation
ACCURATELY TIMED 24 HOUR COLLECTION (E.G. 6A.M., DAY 1 TO 6A.M., DAY 2) IS CRUCIAL FOR RESULT ACCURACY. COLLECT URINE IN A CLEAN WIDE MOUTH CONTAINER & TRANSFER ENTIRE COLLECTION INTO THE CONTAINER THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE LAB. REFRIGERATE DURING COLLECTION. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN (CONTAINS CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES). DO NOT CONSUME FOODS RICH IN SEROTONIN (E.G. BANANAS, PINEAPPLE, CEREALS, POTATOES, COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, VANILLA ETC.) FOR 72 HOURS PRIOR TO SAMPLE COLLECTION. AVOID STRENUOUS EXERCISE.
Sample type
24 HOUR URINE.
Container/ preservative
CLEAN CONTAINER WITH 10ML OF 6N HCL PRESERVATIVE ISSUED BY THE LAB.
Sample volume
10ML ALIQUOT OF 24 HOUR URINE. ORIGINAL (TOTAL) VOLUME IN ML MUST BE SPECIFIED ON THE REQUEST FORM.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; 24 HOUR URINE VOLUME NOT PROVIDED.
Other Instructions
NOT APPLICABLE.
Reference intervals
AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
VMA IS A METABOLITE OF NORADRENALINE (NOREPINEPHRINE) WHICH IS A CATECHOLAMINE. EVALUATION OF HYPERTENSION AND CATECHOLAMINE SECRETING TUMOURS LIKE PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA, NEUROBLASTOMA AND PARAGANGLIOMA.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
DIETARY & DRUG INTERFERENCE CAN OCCUR. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS & RESULTS OF OTHER DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP E.G. IMAGING, TISSUE BIOPSY FINDINGS.